Method and apparatus for providing an external connection to an electrical component



Nov. 11. 1969 H. R. TESTO METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN EXTERNAL CONNECTION TO AN ELECTRICAL comronmm Filed July 5. 1967 INVENTOR HENRY RAYMOND rsr0 ATTORNEYS United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN EXTERNAL CONNECTION TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT Henry Raymond Testo, 3416 W. 60th St.,

Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,197 Int. Cl. H01r 13/24 U.S. Cl." 339-244 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The method and apparatus for providing an external connection to an electrical component are disclosed. A terminal clip is described as including an integral length of conductive resilient metal strip having a circumferential segmental portion sized to envelop the terminal end of an elongated component, such as a cylindrical type fuse, and to be positioned between the terminal end of the component and its conductive retainer clamp in a conductive relationship. An extending portion leads from the circumferential segmental portion and includes a terminal or lug portion suitably adapted for'attachment to a conductor. The method according to the disclosure comprises the procedural combination of steps of orienting a component having a terminal end and a conductive retainer clamp into spaced relationship for lateral movement of the terminal end toward the clamp, positioning apiece of conductive resilient metal strip intermediate the terminal end and the clamp, and inserting the componentterminal into its conductive retainer clamp to positionthe conducting member in a conductive relationship therebetween.

BACKGROUND, OF THE INVENTION vconductive member-in conductive relationship intermediatethe terminal end of the component and its conductive retainer clamp.

In the electrical arts, it has long been recognized that certain diificulties must be overcome in providing an additional connection 'or connections from any point in a given electrical network. A wide variety of solutions to .the problem' of providing additional connections have prompted such structures as terminal strips, terminal blocks, banks of 'conductors,-and various other devices "forcreating additional connections.

- --Moreover, the prior art-has long recognized the need for utilizing safety means in electrical circuits to prevent excessive current and to obviate thehazards which may result from a circuit overload. Typical examples of safety .ticular amperage and upon exceeding the particular amperage in question, result in an open circuit and avoid electrical hazard.

Where a pulrality of fused'circuitsnhaving electrical .components are interwoven within a particular environment, such as a network, automobile, or dwelling, it has been found advantageous to centralize the location of the plurality of fuses. This is particularly advantageous for devices are overload' devices, circuit breakers, and of course fuses. Typical fuses are rated to conduct a par- 3,478,307 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 the convenience of the individual who may be called upon to repair or replace fuses upon the occurrence of electrical malfunction. As is well known, especially in the automobile or dwelling, the fuse blocks take a wide variety of shapes and forms.

In both the automobile and the dwelling, unless particular precautions have been made to wire in dummy circuits at the time of installation of the circuits which are protected, one of the peculiar difliculties is creating an additional connection for use with a later-added network or accessory. In the automobile, for example, the wiring is generally completed and the fuses inserted into a fuse block at the factory. When one wishes to add an additional accessory, not present at the time of manufacture of the automobile, certain difficulties are encountered in creating a connection fused or unfused in the automobile.

A typical manner of creating an additional fused or unfused outlet in an automobile is to detect a convenient point of proper electrical potential adjacent to the accessory to be added. Thereafter, the circuit is completed with the necessary conductors and, of course, it is desirable to utilize a safety device, such as a fuse, to protect the circuit 0f the later-added accessory. Of general utility in such a circuit is the so called in-the-line cylindrical fuse.

Such a solution to the problem, particularly in an automobile or a dwelling, of providing an additional conductor from a fuse assembly has proved unsatisfactory for a number of reasons including cost, time for installation, and the like, and it has long been desired to find a convenient and easy, yet hasty, manner of providing an accessory connection.

Similarly, in electrical networks it is often desirable to provide rapidly an additional connection to an electrical component within the network. Such additional connections may be used for example as taps for a source of potential for other components or as leads for monitoring an electrical event at the component. Again, prior art solutions have not proved entirely satisfactory for several reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To obviate the problems of the prior art and to effect a convenient solution to the particular difficulties denoted, a terminal clip has been developed according to the invention which may be used in circumferentially enveloping at least a portion of the terminal end of an electrical component when positioned intermediate the terminal end and its conductive clamp.

The terminal clip is defined by an integral length of conductive resilient metal strip including a circumferential segmental portion sized to envelop circumferentially the terminal end of an electrical component. When in register, the clip is retained at a point intermediate the terminal end of the component and its conductive retainer clamp. A conductive portion of the clamp extends from the circumferential segmental portion and includes means,

for example a lug portion, for attachment to the end of a conductor. The means may include, for example a dimpledjmale end for convenient utilization with the female recessed clamp.

The terminal clip is manufactured from any suitable conductor material, such as copper or brass, and may have an overall length suflicient to place the lug end at a point remote from the terminal block to a point convenient for attachment to a conductor.

In general, the preferred width, especially of the'terminal means, is a matter of choice depending on the nature of the conductor to be attached to the terminal clip. When the width is about A", the clip may be conveniently manufactured from a conventional conductive resilient metal strip or shim stock, of varying thickness. The thickness is determined by the electrical characteristic of the circuit to be installed, as well as the nature of the connection to be made.

The terminal clip may further include a guide portion attached to the segmental portion and so designed to permit easy insertion of the fuse into place within the fuse block and to provide a convenient guide path for the fuse during its insertion. In this manner, it may guard against the interference between the fuse and the clip.

The method according to the invention includes the steps of providing a piece of conductive resilient metal strip of suitable dimension and configuration, orienting the terminal end of an electrical component, such as a fuse, and a conductive retainer clamp, for movement of the terminal end toward the clamp, positioning a third conductive member, for example a conductive resilient metal strip, between the terminal end of the component and the component retainer clamp, applying force to the component in such a manner that the terminal end and the resilient metal strip come into contact, continuing to apply force to position the third conductive member about the terminal end of the component by lateral movement into the fuse retainer clamp, thus providing a terminal clip having the circumferential segment enveloping at least a portion of the terminal end of the clamp to provide an additional conductor.

With the problems of the prior art devices in mind, it is a general object of this invention to provide a terminal clip.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a terminal clip having a circumferential portion sized to envelop the terminal end of an electrical component.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a terminal clip for use in providing an additional conductor from a fuse block assembly wherein a portion of the clip is sized to envelop the terminal end of the fuse.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a clip having an extended portion for convenient attachment of a conductor of selected end characteristics at a point remote from the electrical component.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a terminal clip for the purpose stated having a circumferential portion sized to envelop circumferentially the terminal end of a component, the circumferential portion conveniently attached to an extending portion and a lug portion for convenient attachment to a conductor of predetermined characteristics.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a method for providing an additional conductive connection from an electrical component.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an additional connector for a fuse having a terminal end confined in a retainer clamp.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from a study of a detailed description and a review of the drawings.

\ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a plan viewof a terminal block assembly showing electrical components in a parallel columnar relationship, showing the terminal clip in place and a conductor attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the portion of the recess showing the component, the terminal clip according to of the fuse at a point intermediate the fuse and the terminal clamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a generally rectangular fragmentary section of an array 10 of electrical components, for example a fuse block, generally manufactured from insulating or dielectric material. Array 10 has a plurality of recesses 11 contained therein for receiving electrical components, such as safety devices or fuses. It should be understood that recesses 11 are sized to receive the desired size of component, and variations in length, width and the like are possible.

Disposed within a recess 11, an elongated electrical component, for example a fuse, is pictured generally at 20 as comprising a mid-portion and terminal ends 22 and 23 thereon. Terminal ends 22 and 23 are formed from a conductive material interconnecting the conductor portion within the mid-portion 1 of a predetermined electrical characteristic. Terminals 22 and 23 are laterally inserted into a conductive retainer clamp to provide an electrical connection.

Components 20, in a preferred embodiment, comprise elongated, cylindrical type fuses, suitably positioned in a fuse block assembly. As depicted, array 10 may be con sidered generally representative of an automotive fuse block assembly wherein one column may represent a keyed electrical connection, and the other column may represent an unkeyed electrical connection. By selection of a particular terminal, an accessory may operate only when the automobile ignition key is in the on position, or the accessory may operate whenever an accessory switch assumes the on position.

It should also be understood, however, that components 20 may also be elements other than fuses, such !B.S resistors, capacitors, and the like, wherein it is desired to provide an external connection from the terminal point of the. component. Moreover, the array of components may be a printed circuit assembly, or other types of electrical networks.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, components 20 are held within recess 11 in block 10 by a biased, generally bifurcated, conductive retainer 30, suitably anchored as at 31 to the base of cavity 11. Retainer 30 generally comprises bifurcated, generally similarportions 33 and 34 each of which has an extending inner portion as at 35 and 36 and Segmental portions as at 37 and 38 for circumferentially enveloping at least a portion of the terminal end of component 20.

Means are provided for producing an additional connection at block 10 in the form of a terminal clip generally shown at 40 of an integral conductive construction, as can best be seen in FIG. 3.

Terminal clip 40 comprises an integral length of shaped conductive resilient metal strip wherein the length comprises a guide portion 41 so arranged that when the clip is in place in its position intermediate the bi-a-sed bifurcated portions of clamp 30, guide portion 41 lies generally adjacent and parallel to the ear portion'35 of the clamp. In this manner, the terminal end of the component 20 is guided into the retainer slot to be secured therein.

A circumferential segmental portion of terminal clip 41 is shown at 42 for circumferentially envelopingat least a portion of the ferrule or terminal end of the component 20. When in position intermediate the component and the clamp, circumferential segmental portion 42 is in electrical contact with portions 37 and 38 and the terminal end of the component to provide a highly conductive, low resistance contact. I

It can be seen that circumferential portion 42, although depicted as generally circular in form, may be shaped in other geometrical configurations according to the nature of the terminal end of the component enveloped. For example, if the conductive terminal end 22 of component were hexagonal, the circumferential portion could be similarly hexagonal.

Terminal clip further comprises an extending portion 44 leading from the circumferential segmental portion 42 for extending terminal means to a position remote from the array wherein the operator may conveniently attach a conductor to the clips, such as shown by lug 47 with conductor 48 attached thereto.

It should be understood that any type of terminal means 45 may be provided in accordance with the dictates of the conductor to be attached. In the embodiments disclosed, for example, the clip 47 and the terminal means 45 are provided with locking means. -In this instance, locking means comprise a dimple 49 in means 45 for association with depression in lug 47.

In the method, according to the invention, for providing an external connection to a component terminal, the terminal end 22 of component 20 isoriented in a spaced relationship with the bifurcated portions 33 and 34 of retainer clamp 30. In the absence of clip 40 or any other conductive resilient metal stripq, component 20 would be laterally moved by gentle pressure thereon toward the opening in the clamp 30 to be secured therein.

Where terminal clip 40 is inserted into the opening between the biased bifurcated portions 33 and 34 of clamp 30, the operator may insert the terminal end 22 of the component 20 into the circumferential segmental portion 42 of terminal clip 40. Thereafter, the component-clip subcombination may be inserted as a unit into the opening in clamp 30 to be conductively secured therein.

In the alternative, clip 40 may first be inserted into clamp 30 and thereafter terminal end 22 laterally moved toward the interior of the circumferential segmental portion 42 thereafter to be fixedly secured in a conductive relationship therein.

It may also be desired, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to provide a third conductive member in the form of a piece of resilient conductive metal. Terminal means 45 and interlocking means 49 may be formed near one end thereon.

Member 60 is positioned intermediate the terminal end 22 oriented with the opening in clamp 30. Force, indicated by arrow 61, is applied to component 20 in such a manner that the component terminal end is moved laterally into contact with member 60. Continued application of force 61 to component 20 causes strip 60 to form a circumferential segmental position, as can best be seen in FIG. 5, for enveloping the terminal end 22 of component 20.

Further continued application of force 61 to component 20 in a position generally transverse to its longitudinal axis causes the assembly to assume a conductive relationship as shown in FIG. 2 and as previously described.

It is not my intention that the illustrated embodiment nor the terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as variations in these may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. In an insulating fuse holder of the type comprising a recess, an elongated cylindrical-type fuse having opposed conductive terminal ends, a fuse retainer disposed within said recess for receiving the terminal ends of said fuse in a conductive relationship, the improvement comprising:

means for providing an external connection to said fuse holder, said means including an integral length of conductive resilient metal strip, said length including a circumferential segmental portion sized to envelop at least a portion of a terminal end of said elongated fuse when said length is aflixed in a position intermediate said fuse terminal end and said fuse retainer,

an extending portion leading from said circumferential segmental portion to a point remote from said terminal end, and

terminal means attached to said extending portion for providing a connection to a predetermined conductor end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,625 9/ 1955 Harrison 339198 3,014,977 12/1961 Geiser 17452 3,060,257 10/ 1962 Spurgeon 1747 3,350,530 10/1967 Fry 200166 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 33 9-25 8 

